Welcome to our third Member Highlight. Today we’re thrilled to introduce Jan, the most talented Artist of the Team… mainly because he’s also the only one. If you can’t catch him online during the day he probably went to sleep at the same time most others wake up.
Explore some of Jan’s latest works jangeierportfolio.carrd.co
Q: What’s your background, and how did you find your way into making games?
A: A: I myself discovered the world of video games relatively late in life. So I spent most of my younger days doing all sorts of creative activities. From drawing, crafting and woodworking to creating my own characters and stories with modelling clay, I was introduced to the world of video games through friends and have been hooked ever since. Creating my own themed worlds and being able to play in them was something I had always dreamed of since I was younger, so it was a no-brainer to one day work in the video game industry.
Q: If you are not developing games, what else are you doing?
A: Is there such a time…?
When I’m not an artist working on our game, I’m an artist working on my personal silly projects. As well as playing some FPS games, you’ll probably find me drawing until 4am (undeniably the best hours of the „day“) or watching hours of YouTube video essays about a game I’ve never played. Only one thing could tear me away from my desktop and that would be my many beloved cats.
Q: What’s a fact about you that everyone knows?
A: The less you know about me the more calmly you can sleep, trust me…
… I guess the color green is pretty neat.
Q: What’s your favorite aspect of your work?
A: I guess creating characters, creatures or whole worlds from scratch and giving them a visual appearance is probably the most fun for me. It’s like playing God. You get to create everything, be the one to decide on the smallest, most inconsequential details that most players will never even notice in the final game, and finally make all those gigabytes of hyper-specific references that I saved that might come in handy one day worthwhile… well, as long as everything fits with the game designer’s vision.
Q: What qualities define you in your role?
A: : That’s a tough one, but I’d say I benefit from having a bit of knowledge in all sorts of creative fields or applications, such as illustration & pixel art making, 3D modelling and painting, animation, graphic design and a general eye for aesthetics. Being the only artist in the team, I think I have to be flexible with my skills and dive into new areas all the time. I’m far from being a pro in any of these fields, but I’m always eager to improve on my journey here.
Q: What’s been your favorite moment so far?
A: Seeing people really enjoy the game you worked on. Every time I see someone who isn’t part of the dev team experience the games I’ve worked on for the first time, it’s something very special to me, a kind of relief that you’ve done a good job. Seeing a smile on a player’s face is always very rewarding after the long process that the game and your team have gone through. But it is not only the positives that count, hearing constructive feedback also helps me to improve my output for future projects.
Q: How do you split up work in the team, and what do you enjoy most about it?
A: Well, I appreciate the fact that I don’t have to touch a single line of code and can get away with it. I am happy to leave that task to my dear programming mates Nico and David. Also even though I love to create new things and bring my thoughts to life, I’m grateful to have a helping hand in Basti, our game designer, who gives me all sorts of ideas and directions and inspires me with his „totally reasonable“ lore and setting suggestions. I can let my creativity run wild and get all the support I need from the guys. In the end, I’d say that for these reasons, and the fact that we all vibe really well together, working with these guys is just a lot of fun.
Final Thoughts
Jan is the heart of our visual and creative process, constantly bringing unique characters and worlds to life with passion and endless late-night energy. His knack for diving into new skills and turning ideas into reality makes him an irreplaceable part of the team.
We can’t wait to share more of Jan’s artistry and the team’s efforts with you – maybe even a sneak peek of some of the game’s coolest challenges.
Ask Me Anything
Curious to learn more about Jan’s journey, his approach to his art process or the best cat pics. Now’s your chance!
Jan is hosting an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on our official Discord server right now.
Bring your questions about art, his methods or let’s just have a nice chat and share your beloved pet pics – Jan is ready to chat! We can’t wait to see you there!
